GOOGLE is using location data gathered from phones to help public health officials understand how people’s movements have changed in response to the global coronavirus pandemic.

The reports use data from people who have opted in to storing their location history with Google to help illustrate the degree to which people are adhering to government instructions.

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The Covid-19 Community Mobility Report dated August 2, 2020, looks at data between Sunday, June 21, and Sunday, August 2.

The data shows there has been a large rise in the number of people visiting parks with an increase of 89 per cent compared to the baseline.

There has also been a slight increase in the number of people visiting residential areas with a rise of 4 per cent compared to the baseline.

Public transport has seen a drop of 49 per cent compared to the baseline and the number of people visiting supermarkets and pharmacies has also dropped by 24 per cent.

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Visits to retail and recreation - which comprises of restaurants, cafes and shopping centres - has seen a drop of 41 per cent compared to the baseline.

The data comes as the government launched its Eat Out to Help Out scheme across the UK on Monday, August 3.

The scheme grants diners a 50 per cent discount off all food and non-alcoholic drinks at participating eateries, up to a maximum of £10 per person.